🍷 Arnaldo Caprai – Where Legacy Meets the Future, One Glass at a Time
In a region overflowing with wine and pride, Arnaldo Caprai stands apart — not because they shout the loudest, but because every drop whispers excellence.
We arrived and were immediately greeted by Lorenzo — not just a guide, but a charismatic storyteller with the wine wisdom of a sommelier and the charm of someone who actually cares. He welcomed us with a refreshing sparkling rosé and cool water — a small gesture, but one that already placed this visit in a different league.
From there, we walked among the vines where the mighty Sagrantino grape thrives. Lorenzo didn’t just share facts — he shared reverence. The history, the research, the innovation. You don’t just taste the grape at Caprai. You feel its roots.
Inside the facility, the contrast between red and white wine production was explained with precision. Then we descended into the cellar — a cathedral of French oak barrels — where Lorenzo revealed Caprai’s most unique collaboration: a pioneering method co-developed with Michel Rolland, the world-renowned oenologist and maître à penser of global winemaking. Born in Libourne, France, Rolland brings centuries of tradition into every barrel, and that partnership is felt in every drop.
Then came the tasting: five glasses pre-set like an invitation to joy — one white, three reds, and a sweet dessert wine. Lorenzo guided us through each one with authority and delight. Not just a tasting, but a narrative. Not just flavours, but philosophy.
We left with eight bottles and that rare feeling of having experienced something alive. Caprai may produce over a million bottles a year, but there is nothing industrial about what they do. It’s legacy in motion. Land in dialogue. Sagrantino, evolving.
Founded in 1971 by the now 93-year-old patriarch — who still checks in — the estate is now steered by his children, combining tradition with momentum. 68% of the wine remains in Italy. The rest finds its way into 38 countries — and into the hearts of people who still believe wine is a story, not a SKU.
Verdict:
Arnaldo Caprai is proof that great wine doesn’t just age — it transcends.
A brilliant vineyard. A gracious host. And a masterclass in how legacy tastes.